GUWAHATI:
The Sailing Expedition – Lachit II, organised by the naval National Cadet Corps (NCC) unit to mark 75 years of NCC raising, was flagged in by Maj Gen Bhaskar Kalita, additional director general (ADG), NCC, North Eastern Region (NER) directorate at Pandu Port on October 26.
The expedition was flagged off from Biswanath Ghar on October 17, and 76 senior division and senior wing naval NCC cadets from 48 and 49 Assam naval unit NCC participated in the expedition. The team covered a distance of 220 km in 10 days, traversing through five districts before reaching Pandu Port on Wednesday.
The expedition team took night halts at Silghat, Jahajghat, Thelamara, Tengagauri, Baramari, Kashasila, Hatisila, Kurua and Lachit Ghat while en route to Pandu Port. Along the way, the team interacted with locals and spread awareness on various social issues like drug abuse, Beti Bachao Beti Padao and social media – benefits and harms, etc.
The team also undertook a cleaning drive of river fronts as part of Puneet Sagar Abhiyaan and distributed dustbins to various schools and colleges during halts as social service and community development.
The expedition was conducted to promote the spirit of adventure amongst NCC cadets and highlight the contribution of NCC towards nation-building since independence.
The expedition was led by Lt Cdr Rajesh Bhujel, CO 49 A NU NCC, and was assisted by Lt Cdr Debanand Doley, CO 48 A NU NCC as safety officer. There were three 27 ft DK Whalers, a support vessel from IWT, Army and two rescue boats from both the naval NCC units as part of the expedition.
The expedition team was tested by the uncharted routes as few of the locations such as Thelamara, Tengaguri and Baramari are not regular ports. Apart from this, the team also withstood the challenges imposed by cyclone ‘Sitrang’ during the last legs of the expedition wherein the team completed the last two legs in incessant rain and gusty winds.
The expedition allowed the naval NCC cadets to explore the mightiness of the Brahmaputra as well as understand the importance of maintaining the rivers for future generations. They also had a unique experience of understanding the lives of people residing along the river banks which will help them in their future endeavours.
Brig Dinar Dighe, Gp Cdr, NCC Gp HQ Guwahati, Partha Pegu, director, IWT and Col Arvind Singh Thakur, CO 1 Assam NCC Bn also attended the event.